| (Copyright 06-07-2024) by Gregory Diaz (Wayne, New Jersey) |
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| Christians and Bible students familiar with chapters seven and fourteen of Revelation have questioned who the 144,000 will be. In a previous article called “The 144,000 Virgins,” I discussed the meaning of virginity in the context of Revelation and the Bible. In this article I will present additional ideas that may help us understand the song of the 144,000 servants of God. Let us first consider the significance of the number itself. The Bible tells us that these 144,000 servants come from “all the tribes of Israel” (Rev 7:4). The number is arrived at by multiplying the number of tribes by the number of servants from each tribe; or, in other words, twelve times 12,000. Clearly, God has a purpose for choosing certain numbers. It has been said by Herbert Armstrong, the founder of the Worldwide Church of God, that the number twelve represents organized beginnings (Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong – Volume 2, page 58). Concerning the number twelve, E W Bullinger wrote that it “Denotes Governmental perfection. It is the number of factor of all numbers connected with government: whether by Tribes or Apostles, or in measurements of time, or in things which have to do with government in the heavens and the earth.” (The E W Bullinger Companion Bible; Appendix 10, The Spiritual Significance of Numbers.) God began His nation from the twelve sons of Jacob. They, in turn, grew into twelve tribes, which then became the nation of Israel. During His ministry, Jesus first chose twelve apostles. At the first Pentecost after Jesus ascended into heaven, the church began with 120. Notice the significance of the last number. 120 is a multiple of twelve. It is significant that 144,000 is also a multiple of twelve, since the Bible itself points this out. The Bible tells us there are 12,000 from each of Israel’s twelve tribes. Therefore, just as 120 members began the church, there will again be a beginning, or a return to the correct way that the church is to be organized. This must happen soon, as the bride of Jesus must make herself ready before His return (Rev 19:7, 21:2). The church must return to biblical government; the knowledge of which it had lost during the first century. According to Rev 14:3, the church will sing “as it were a NEW song before the throne.” Let us consider the verse which immediately follows the prophecy of the 144,000. Rev 14:6 says, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting GOSPEL to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” In Matthew 24:14 Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Since the gospel is preached immediately AFTER the 144,000 learn the song, we understand that the song IS the true gospel. 2 Thes 2:3,7 tells us that before the day of Christ there would “come a falling away.” Jesus predicted “many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ,” deceiving many (Matt 24:5). Gal 1:6 tells us that the Galatian church had quickly turned to “another gospel.” Therefore, let us consider that, since the church has preached a gospel to the world, and given that the end has not yet come, the church has preached a false gospel. However, after the church learns the new song, it will then understand the true gospel. It will then be a tremendous witness to the world, not only by preaching, but also by living the gospel. Rev 14:3 tells us it is only the 144,000 servants of God that are able to learn this song. These servants of God are the church of God and therefore must learn this song. The church must organize itself according to the government of God. In order to practice correct biblical government, it must rely solely on the supernatural power of Jesus to enforce its policies. Jesus tells us “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev 3:22). We know Jesus promised, and then gave the holy spirit to His church. This began His church on the first day of Pentecost following His resurrection (Acts 2:4). Ephesians 1:13 tells us that Christians are “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Revelation 7:3 says that the 144,000 will be “sealed.” They will therefore be sealed with the holy spirit (Eph 1:13), just as the first members of the church were also sealed with the holy spirit. Therefore, it seems that the 144,000 servants of God will be the end time equivalent of the first 120 members of the church who practiced correct church government. Let us consider why God uses the number twelve to represent organization. The Bible tells us that the holy spirit produces the “fruits of righteousness” (Phil 1:11). Christians experience a beautiful unity only made possible by the holy spirit. Psalm 133:1 says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Galatians 5:22-23 mentions nine fruits of the spirit. However, if there are actually twelve fruits of the spirit, it would be logical for God to use that number to represent the beginning of His organization: the beginning of His government. Jesus tells us that the holy spirit gives life (John 4:14, 6:63 and 7:38). After receiving God’s spirit, Christians “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col 3:10). Jesus said his Father is glorified when Christians “bear much fruit” (John 15:8, Phil 1:11). In Rev 22:2 concerning the tree of life we read “In the midst of the street of it (in the new Jerusalem), and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare TWELVE manner of fruits.” Now, we see that both the holy spirit and the tree of life bear fruit. It is therefore evident that the tree of life represents the holy spirit and therefore the holy spirit bears “twelve manner of fruits.” If so, this reveals the reason God uses twelve to represent organized beginnings, since the fruits of the spirit will produce unity among Christians. When the church received the holy spirit, it enabled them to communicate with each other regardless of their languages. The miracle of tongues reversed the language barrier God had imposed at the Tower of Babel. Babylon was, and continues to be, an organization that is united by man’s will and power. On the other hand, God’s holy spirit enables His “called out ones” to have unity through communication exemplified by the fruit it bears. The miracle of tongues restored communication. This, therefore, was a sign indicating the church had come out of Babylon. Let us consider that the “new song” is not an actual song. Rather, Jesus is figuratively using the expression to let us know that there is something new to learn. The knowledge of this song and the message to the Laodicean church are identical. Those that learn it will return to the Philadelphia church. At the beginning of this organization, it will be only those with “ears to hear” that will learn this song. However, after the initial 144,000 are sealed there will be a great multitude converted. God planned that Israel would have twelve tribes. If there are twelve fruits of the spirit and twelve tribes of Israel, it would also be logical for God to designate each tribe to each represent one fruit of the spirit. Knowing which fruit each tribe represents will help us understand the “new song” of Revelation fourteen. The Bible tells us that Israel had twelve sons. Israel additionally adopted Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph (Gen 48:5). The sons of Israel would become the tribes of Israel. With Ephraim and Manasseh replacing Joseph their father, there then became a total of thirteen tribes. However, it is significant that when we read through the list of tribes in Revelation seven there are only twelve mentioned. We do not see the tribe of Dan. This is because Dan is the only tribe that does not represent a fruit of the spirit. The name Dan means “to judge” and therefore represents judging. Since judging is not a fruit of the spirit, the tribe is left out. It is also significant that the name Dan has a similar meaning to that of the church of Laodicea (Rev 3:14). Laodicea means “justice of the people.” It is because of its organized, earthly enforced judgment that Jesus will rebuke the Laodicean church (Rev 3:19). Although the tribe of Dan does not represent a fruit of the spirit, it does represent an important characteristic of God’s nature. God requires justice. Knowing this helps us understand God’s forgiveness and the need for Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for our sins. Considering that Dan represents judgment rather than a fruit of the spirit also gives insight into Gen 49:16. The Douay-Rheims version translates this verse “Dan shall judge his people like another tribe in Israel.” That this is specifically pointed out gives the idea that the tribe is “like” the other tribes yet different in some respect. Let us consider the tribal names, characteristics, prophecies and other information to determine which fruit each tribe represents. Judah is the first tribe mentioned in Rev 7:5. In Hebrew, Judah means “praise,” which is a word synonymous with love. Judah, therefore, represents the fruit of love. 1 John 4:16 tells us that “God is love.” God chose David of the tribe of Judah, a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22), to be king. God is saving mankind because of His love for us. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus tells us “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). The next tribe mentioned is Reuben. Reuben means “behold a son” and represents the fruit of self-control. It is through wisdom that we exercise self-control. Reuben was the firstborn son of Israel. Likewise, wisdom was the first creation of God (Proverbs 8:23). The book of Proverbs encourages us to seek wisdom, with many of the proverbs teaching self-control. One example is Prov 29:11 (ESV) which says, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Gad means “a troop” (or fortune) and represents the fruit of goodness. Notice the prophecy of Gad in Gen 49:19. It says “Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.” This has the idea of good triumphing over evil. Compare this verse with Romans 12:21, which says “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” This is an important idea to understand. We must understand the difference between good and evil in order to live by this verse. Asher means “happy.” Asher therefore represents the fruit of joy, since joy is a synonym for happiness. It is a blessing to have joy. In Deut 33:24 (RSV) Moses blessed the tribe of Asher saying, “Blessed above sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers and let him dip his foot in oil.” Naphtali means “struggling” or “wrestling” and represents the fruit of patience. This is because patience is something we may struggle with. For example, when someone challenges our patience, we tend to struggle over how we will respond. God’s spirit leads us to endure. Manasseh is the next tribe. Manasseh means “forgetful.” Of course, we are all familiar with the phrase forgive and forget. Therefore, since forgetting and forgiving are closely associated with each other, Manasseh represents the fruit of forgiveness. Although Gal 5:22-23 doesn’t mention forgiveness as a fruit of the spirit, we understand it is an inherent part of God’s character. Forgiveness is also mentioned in some verses along with other fruits of the spirit. Eph 4:32 and Col 3:13 are two verses that tell us to forgive one another. As previously mentioned, Revelation seven does not mention the tribe of Dan. However, it does mention JOSEPH AND MANASSEH rather than Ephraim and Manasseh. As the father of his two sons, the tribe of Joseph usually encompasses both the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. For example, in Gen 49:22-26 and Deut 33:13-17 (where Joseph is named as a tribe) there is no mention of Manasseh as a separate tribe. That is to say, in Gen 49, referring to Joseph, neither Ephraim nor Manasseh are mentioned; and in Deut 33:17, also referring to Joseph, both Ephraim and Manasseh are mentioned. The significance of this is that it gives the idea that Manasseh is an additional tribe. The tribe of Manasseh seems to be replacing the tribe of Dan to symbolically show that “mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2:13). Simeon means “hearing.” A willingness to listen carries the idea of being teachable and open-minded. Acts 17:11 tells us that the Bereans “received the word with all readiness of mind.” Although not mentioned in Gal 5:22-23, we may consider that open-mindedness is a righteous attribute. It can therefore be seen as a fruit of the spirit. We all appreciate people that are good listeners. Listening, of course, is vital for communication. Heb 13:16 tells us “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Levi means “joined” and represents the fruit of meekness and humility (Col 3:12). With humility we draw closer to God (Isa 57:15). We become “one spirit” with Him (1 Cor 6:17). We are likewise encouraged to be “perfectly joined together” to each other (1 Cor 1:10). 1 Pet 5:5 tells us that we should “be subject one to another and be clothed with humility.” Humility is also the theme of the day of atonement; a feast day that concerns uniting with God. Issachar means “reward” and represents kindness. The idea is that there are benefits for acts of kindness. The reward for an act of kindness might only be that of giving us a good feeling, yet it is still a reward. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). We also know that God will reward our good deeds (Eph 6:7-8). Zebulun means “dwelling” and represents the fruit of peace. Of course, in order to dwell together with others, peace is a necessity. As we read previously, Psalm 133:1 says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Rom 12:18 says “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Joseph is the next tribe mentioned in Revelation seven. Since Manasseh is already listed separately in Revelation seven, and since Joseph is also the father of Ephraim, let us consider that both Joseph and Ephraim refer to the same tribe. Let us consider the meaning of the names of BOTH Joseph and Ephraim together. Joseph means “He shall add” and Ephraim means “to be fruitful.” Let us consider that Joseph and Ephraim together represent the fruit of faith and the reason that they do. We know that Joseph was separated from his brethren. After Joseph was reunited with his brothers in Egypt, he was able to nourish them (Gen 47:12). Therefore, as Joseph nourished his brothers, through faith we are able to nourish all the fruits of the spirit. “We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Gal 5:5). We rely on God to justify us through faith (Rom 5:1) and to “add” the “fruits of righteousness” to us (John 15:8, Phil 1:11). 2 Pet 1:5-7 urges us to “add” to our faith the other fruits of righteousness. Let us also consider that faith especially gives support for hope (Heb 11:1). Benjamin means “son of the right hand” or “son of my strength” and represents the fruit of hope. Hope gives us the strength to persevere through difficult times. It is interesting that Benjamin was first named Benoni, meaning “son of my sorrow.” Rachel first named him but died shortly after giving birth. The interesting idea is that hope can turn sorrow into strength. Certainly, Benjamin would have helped Israel endure the loss of Rachel, as well as that of Joseph, until he was reunited with him. Benjamin was Joseph’s younger and only full brother. Just as “faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Heb 11:1), Joseph helped Benjamin with additional support (Gen 45:22). The tribes of Israel help us better understand the fruits of the spirit. The fruits give us the reason God uses the number twelve to signify the beginning of His organization. It is also fascinating to consider how God has used the numbers twelve, as well as seven, in His creation. With that in mind, and as the topic of this article discusses the new “song,” it is interesting to consider that numbers used in music are identical to those used in the Bible. In the Bible, the number twelve is mentioned 187 times, while the number seven is mentioned over 700 times. In melodic music there are twelve notes to a chromatic scale and seven notes to a natural scale. Therefore, in a sense, music is organized with the same numbers God has used to symbolize His organization and perfect plan. It is also fascinating to consider how God organized the calendar. God created the sun, moon and rotation of the earth to “be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Gen 1:14). Although, at first, it may not seem like it, God created the lunar months to give us a perfect lunisolar calendar. A lunisolar calendar is one that combines both the motion of the earth around the sun and the phases of the moon. A lunar month is approximately 29.5 days. Because of this, twelve lunar months only amount to about 354 days per year, or approximately 11 days shorter than a solar year. To adjust for this discrepancy, a leap month is added to the calendar every two or three years. With the addition of leap months, there will be twelve regular years, and seven leap years, for every nineteen-year time cycle. A time cycle is a nearly precise period of nineteen years when lunar phases recur at the same time of the year. The interesting idea is that God designed the calendar to require leap months. God planned for leap years to have thirteen months, just as Manasseh was added as a thirteenth tribe. Like the thirteenth tribe, the thirteenth month represents forgiveness. As mentioned previously, Rev 22:2 associates the months of the year with the fruits of the tree of life. The verse specifically tells us “the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Matt 9:5 teaches us that Jesus healed by forgiving sins. Therefore, healing comes through forgiveness. Jesus also taught us that God forgives our sins if we forgive the sins of others (Matt 6:14). It is interesting that this verse specifically mentions healing, and therefore forgiveness, since it seems as though God designed the calendar’s leap months as a representation of this fruit. Deut 33 tells us that Moses blessed the tribes of Israel. There is an interesting idea given in verse 13 and 14. “And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, … for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon.” Notice, by referencing the sun and moon, this verse associates fruits with the calendar, since the sun and moon are the premise for the calendar. Being that faith supports the addition of fruit to our character, and with Joseph being the tribe representing faith, we see the reason to connect the sun and moon with the tribe. We may not know whether the servants of God mentioned in Revelation seven will be actual physical descendants of the twelve tribes. However, we know all Christians become citizens of the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16, 1 Pet 2:9). Therefore, genealogical ancestry may not be relevant to the intended meaning of the chapter. Let us understand that the prophecy of the 144,000 is not only a prophecy. It is also an instruction concerning the most important concepts of the Bible. There is something NEW, the new song, that Christians must learn. We must learn the concept of virginity in the context of the book of Revelation and other biblical passages. We must beware of the leaven of the “enticing words of man’s wisdom” (1 Cor 2:4) and resist the temptation to “join” to earthly government. We must enter into the fortress and place of safety that is symbolically represented by Mount Zion (Rev 14:1). Jesus tells us “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt 18:18). We must rely on the supernatural power of Jesus (1 Cor 5:4) to enforce judgment within the church of God and protect it from evil. We must come out of the world and the Babylon of man’s justice system. We WILL then receive God’s blessing and protection. —————————————————————————————————— See Gregory Diaz’s other articles at: Diaz, Gregory – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) —————————————————————————————————— |
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